Show-case or show-window.



" PATENTED JULY 3, 1906.

T. VAUGHAN SHOW CASE OR SHOW WINDOW.

APPLICATION FILED 1130.15. 1905.

BEST AVAILABLE COPY UNITED srngas THOMAS VAUGHAN, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

sHow 'cAsE OR SHOW-WINDOW.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1906.

Application filed December 15, 1905. Serial No.29l,822.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS VAUGHAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Everett, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Show-Cases or Show-Windows, of which the following descri tion, in connection with the accompanying rawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like arts.

T 's invention has for its object to provide a novel clasp or fastening means for securing together the abutting edges of the glass of a show-window or a show-case.

My improved fastening device comprises two clasp members adapted to be secured to two abuttin glass plates of the window or show-case, w 'ch members are so constructed that they may be readily applied to the glass plates, and after the glass plates have been secured together thereby said lates may be readily moved up or down slig tly with reference to each other without subjecting either the fastening device or the glass to any 2 5 undue strain.

Each member of my improved clasp is made of sheet metal and is bent at one end to form both a groove and a lip. The lip and groove of each member are so constructed that when the two parts of-the clasp are together the lip of one member enters the groove of the other. Preferably each clasp member will be stamped from sheet metal and bent into the proper shape during the 3 5 process of stam ing.

. My improve clasp members are made in three different shapes and are so constructed that members of any two different sha es may be usedtogether to form a compliite clas The clasp members are therefore intcrc angeable, and by selecting clasp members of the appropriate shape the clasp may be used either inside or outside of a wmdow, as desired.

5 I will first describe one embodiment of I invention and then oint out the novel tures thereof in the c aims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a s through the corner of a show-wind show-case, showing my improved 0] fastenin means as applied to the on" the win ow. Fig. 2 is a similar viev ing my im roved clasp or fastening to the insi e of the window. Fig. 3 t' 5 5 lar view showing the clasp as it is us the two glass plates make an obtuse angle with each other. Fig. 4 shows the manner of fastening together two glass plates which lie in the same plane. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are perspective views of the elements of my improved fastening device; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the manner in w iich two glass plates may be secured together after the individual members of the fastening device have been applied to the glass. 6

In the drawings I have shown three forms of clasp members. They are illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 and are designated by (1,1), and 0, respectively. These clasp members are so constructed that by using members a and I) together a clasp is formed adapted for use on the inside of a window or show-case, by using members a and 0 to ether a clasp is formed ada ted for use on the outside of a show-casew ere the two glass plates stand a right angles to each other, and by us? members band 0 together a clasp is for for securing together two glass plates in the same plane.

Each of the clasp members co shank which is secured to thei Weir glass plate and a head provir and a groove extending par." ting edges of the glass.

The clasp member a is secured to the sur suitable way and sent a lip 5 and therefore t right anglr ber I) ha' to pre. form are i y br shown in Fig. 1, and the shank 11 of the clasp member 0 is secured to the outside of the other glass plate 17, with the o'll'set portion abutting against the head 4 and the lip 13 thereof entering the groove 6 of the clasp member a. Similarly, the lip 5 of clasp member a, enters the groove 14 of clasp member c.

The shanks of the clasp members may be secured to the glass in any suitable way, as by means of a clamping-screw 18, which extends through the slot 19 in the shank and engages a nut, which is shown as having a head 20 and a shank portion 60.

21 designates a lining of rubber, felt, or some other soft material which surrounds the shank and lies between the head 20 and the glass, said lining preventing any portion of the nut from coming directly into contact with the glass, and thus greatly lessening any liability of the glass breaking or cracking.

If the fastening device is to be on the inside of the square corner of a show-window or show-case, as shown in Fig. 2, clasp members a and b will be employed, the shank 7 of member I) being secured to one of the glass plates 16 and the shank 3 of clasp a being secured to the other glass plate 17. These clasp members are so placed that when the glass plates )rop'erly abut each other, as shown in the 'awings, the lip of each clasp member enters groove of the other clasp member.

here two glass plates, as 23 and 24, which the same plane, are to be secured toemploy clasp members I) and a, they secured to the ,same side (pf plhe h v2 and 24 and so arrange t at '4 -fem the groove of the other, as

' ss lates have an acute 0 glass plates 25 and members a and 12 'se the head 4 of n acute angle with my -for inierpoi ion.

permits the glass plates of a sho\\-"-win(low to slide slightly with reference to each other in case the building containing the window sottles unevenly, and thus prevents them from being cracked or broken.

It will be seen from the above that the various clasp members are interchangeable that is, clasp member a may be used with either clasp member bor c, and similarlyclasp member I) may be used with either member 0 or member a, &c. This interchangeability of the various clasp members I regard as important, because it permits me to use the clasp in any one of the various ways illustrated in the drawings. Heretofore, so far as I am aware, it has been necessary to provide one special form of clasp or fastening for use on the outside of a corner, as in Fig. 1, another special form for use on the inside, as in Fig. 2, and still another special form for use where the glass plates are in line with each other, as in Fig. 4. Since the members of my improved clasp areinterchangeable, however, different combinations of clasp mem-' bers may be made to correspond to the different positions in which the clasp is to be used.

The drawings show one embodiment of my invention only.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A clasp for show-windows and showcases, comprising two sheet metal clasp members, each having a slotted shank and each bent on itself at one end to present both a lip and a groove, the lip and groove of one clasp member being parallel with its shank, and the groove of each member adapted to receive the lip of the other member when the two clasp members are in use.

2. A series of interchangeable clasp members constructed to be used in pairs; each member being made of sheet metal and being bent on itself at one end to present both a lip and a groove of uniform width, the lip being parallel with the groove, the groove of each member of a pair being adapted to receive the li of the other member.

3. n a show-window or show-case, two abutting glass plates having an angular relation to each other, and a pair of clasp members to secure said lates together, each clasp member being madb of sheet metal and bent n itself at one end to present a groove of iiform width and a lip, and presenting aslotshank lying against and adjustably sed to a glass plate, the lip and groove of members being parallel to each other one of the glass plates.

n a show-Window or showcase, two lates having angular relation to each t plurality of pairs of clasp members ing said plates, each clasp member ade of sheet metal and having a slotted shank, a screw extending through the slot name to this specification in the presence of of each shank into the glass, anut engaging two subscribing witnesses. each screw, said nut having a head and a hol- 10w shank portion to enter an aperture in the THOMAS VAUGHAN 5 glass and a resilient covering for the tubular Witnesses:

shank portion. Louis 0. SMITH,

In testimony whereof I have signed my MARGARET A. DUNN. 

